There are times when things just come together in such a way that little further comment is required. Last week, two different items came to my attention and its seems worthwhile and illuminating simply to juxtapose them and let it stand at that.

A law firm in Chicago placed a billboard in a location where it could be seen by thousands of people every day. On each side of the billboard was the picture of a human torso. On the left side, it was a female torso, clad in a kind of low-cut lace outfit. The angle of the picture was such that plenty of cleavage was revealed. On the right side, there was the male torso, with not clothing at all. The man’s pecs were well-defined and he had six-pack abs. In between these two pictures portraying our cultural vision of youthful vitality, vigor and sexiness were the words: Life is Short. Get a Divorce.

Last week as I was rummaging through some books, part of my weekly ritual of sermon preparation, I came across this from Joan Chittister. For those of you who are not familiar with her, Joan Chittister is a Benedictine nun and insightful writer about the spiritual life. I found these words in her book, Becoming Fully Human: “The real question of the age is How many ads can a person possibly watch on TV and stay more committed to the enlightenment of the self than to the aggrandizement of the self?”


On another note. Caring for one’s well-being in such a way that one also develops a deep caring for the world is an on-going task of the spiritual life. Caring for one’s well-being as a pastor has its unique joys and challenges. Being a pastor is often wonderful and sometimes crazy-making – and sometimes the shift happens in seconds! Yesterday I met with a group of friends, all of us pastors, and all of us trying to stay as sane and healthy as we can while also being effective in our pastoral vocation. As I was driving home from this meeting, I recalled a story about a conversation between the Buddha and one of his disciples, Ananda.

Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said: “Venerable sir, this is half of the spiritual life, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.” “Not so, Ananda! Not so, Ananda! This is the entire spiritual life, Ananda, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.

Maybe good friendship is not all that is required for the spiritual life, or for pastors to remain relatively sane and healthy – but I think it is a necessity for both. I am grateful for good friends who are pastors, grateful that I have such friends here in Duluth (even as one moves to the Twin Cities), and in other places. Today I am especially grateful for Bill, Eric, Jeff, Jim and Rory.